BestCarRank
Mazda

2014 Mazda MAZDA3

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2014 Mazda MAZDA3 has 180 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: has anyone else had problems with the radio system. my radio fades in and out continuously. it plays fine when i use the cd player or play pandora but when i play the radio it is horrible! *tr. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 12 crash reports 4 injuries

180

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

/5

Safety Stars

2.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

37 complaints
21%
  • HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO SYSTEM. MY RADIO FADES IN AND OUT CONTINUOUSLY. IT PLAYS FINE WHEN I USE THE CD PLAYER OR PLAY PANDORA BUT WHEN I PLAY THE RADIO IT IS HORRIBLE! *TR
  • STARTING ABOUT A MONTH AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR WE NOTICED THAT THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD SOMETIMES LIGHT UP INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS DEACTIVATED. WE STOP THE CAR AND EXITED THE VEHICLE AND REENTERED THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT STARTED TO WORK PROPERL
  • I HAVE HAD TWO CONTINUOUS ISSUES WITH MY 2014 MAZDA 3; THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN AND THEN BEGIN A CYCLE OF CONTINUOUSLY SHUTTING DOWN A REBOOTING AND THE HEADS UP DISPLAY AT TIMES DOES NOT POP UP WHEN I START THE VEHICLE.THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS IS TO PULL OVER, SHUT OFF THE CAR AND THEN STA
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO SYSTEM. MY RADIO FADES IN AND OUT CONTINUOUSLY. IT PLAYS FINE WHEN I USE THE CD PLAYER OR PLAY PANDORA BUT WHEN I PLAY THE RADIO IT IS HORRIBLE! *TR

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

27 complaints
15%
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER MODULE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,600
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION, AIR PRESSURE, AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT
  • HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO SYSTEM. MY RADIO FADES IN AND OUT CONTINUOUSLY. IT PLAYS FINE WHEN I USE THE CD PLAYER OR PLAY PANDORA BUT WHEN I PLAY THE RADIO IT IS HORRIBLE! *TR
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER MODULE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,600

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

24 complaints
13%
  • MY CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A PUSH TO START/STOP (KEYLESS) "FEATURE". I PULLED MY CAR INTO THE GARAGE LAST NIGHT (WITH THE RADIO OFF), PRESSED THE START/STOP BUTTON TO STOP THE ENGINE, AND WENT INSIDE. WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, ALL NIGHT INSIDE MY ATTACHED ENCLOSED GARAGE.
  • HARSH VIBRATION IN CABIN SIMILAR TO AN ENGINE MISFIRE OCCURS RANDOMLY NEAR IDLE OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER IGNITION. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS CONCERN AND WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN REPRODUCING OR ISOLATING SOURCE OF THE VIBRATION. VIDEO DOCUMENTATION OF THE FAILURE DURING ITS
  • PURCHASED AS NEW VEHICLE. FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE I SMELLED GASOLINE IN GARAGE AFTER PARKING OVERNIGHT. AFTER 1,000 MILES/3 MONTHS THE GAS SMELL BECAME INCREASINGLY STRONGER AND GAS MILEAGE PLUMMETED FROM 30 MPG TO 18 MPG. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID THE SEAMS OF FUEL TANK WER
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

MY CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A PUSH TO START/STOP (KEYLESS) "FEATURE". I PULLED MY CAR INTO THE GARAGE LAST NIGHT (WITH THE RADIO OFF), PRESSED THE START/STOP BUTTON TO STOP THE ENGINE, AND WENT INSIDE. WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, ALL NIGHT INSIDE MY ATTACHED ENCLOSED GARAGE.

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

22 complaints
12%
  • ON MAY 7, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00 PM I PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE, ON A HILL, AT TOWSON WOODS APARTMENT COMPLEX. I TURNED THE CAR OFF WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED AT OVER 3/4 OF THE WAY UP. I WAS STANDING ABOUT 10 FEET OUTSIDE MY CAR, WHICH WAS OFF AND STATIONARY, TALKING TO A FRIEND FOR APP
  • HAVING SPENT APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE TRAFFIC PICKED UP AGAIN, ONLY TO COME TO ANOTHER STOP. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP BECAUSE MY BRAKES HAD COMPLETELY FAILED, MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD NO BRAKING RESPONSE AT ALL. I TAPPED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, NO DAMAGE TO HIS
  • EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED. CAR PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, IN GEAR AND E. BRAKE ENGAGED. CAR WAS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET 20. MINS LATER. DEALERSHIP CHARGED TO REPLACE BREAKS AND SAME SYMPTOMS SHOWING UP AGAIN. CAR LESS THAN 60K MI. THIS IS MANUALLY ENGAGED BREAKS NOT AUTOMATIC.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

ON MAY 7, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00 PM I PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE, ON A HILL, AT TOWSON WOODS APARTMENT COMPLEX. I TURNED THE CAR OFF WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED AT OVER 3/4 OF THE WAY UP. I WAS STANDING ABOUT 10 FEET OUTSIDE MY CAR, WHICH WAS OFF AND STATIONARY, TALKING TO A FRIEND FOR APP

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

14 complaints
8%
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER MODULE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,600
  • MY CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A PUSH TO START/STOP (KEYLESS) "FEATURE". I PULLED MY CAR INTO THE GARAGE LAST NIGHT (WITH THE RADIO OFF), PRESSED THE START/STOP BUTTON TO STOP THE ENGINE, AND WENT INSIDE. WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, ALL NIGHT INSIDE MY ATTACHED ENCLOSED GARAGE.
  • HARSH VIBRATION IN CABIN SIMILAR TO AN ENGINE MISFIRE OCCURS RANDOMLY NEAR IDLE OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER IGNITION. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS CONCERN AND WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN REPRODUCING OR ISOLATING SOURCE OF THE VIBRATION. VIDEO DOCUMENTATION OF THE FAILURE DURING ITS
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER MODULE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,600

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)
$500
BRAKES(~50K mi)
$500
ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 180 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • OTHER: HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO SYSTEM. MY RADIO FADES IN AND OUT CONTINUOUSLY. IT PLAYS FINE WHEN I USE THE CD PLAYER OR PLAY PANDORA BUT WHEN I PLAY THE RADIO IT IS HORRIBLE! *TR

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER MODULE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,600

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • FUEL SYSTEM: MY CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A PUSH TO START/STOP (KEYLESS) "FEATURE". I PULLED MY CAR INTO THE GARAGE LAST NIGHT (WITH THE RADIO OFF), PRESSED THE START/STOP BUTTON TO STOP THE ENGINE, AND WENT INSIDE. WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, ALL NIGHT INSIDE MY ATTACHED ENCLOSED GARAGE.

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • BRAKES: ON MAY 7, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00 PM I PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE, ON A HILL, AT TOWSON WOODS APARTMENT COMPLEX. I TURNED THE CAR OFF WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED AT OVER 3/4 OF THE WAY UP. I WAS STANDING ABOUT 10 FEET OUTSIDE MY CAR, WHICH WAS OFF AND STATIONARY, TALKING TO A FRIEND FOR APP

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
180
Recalls
0
Fire reports
1
Crash reports
12
Injury reports
4
Segment avg
80

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2014 Mazda MAZDA3